Sunday December 1, 2024

This Week's Message is:

"You Are a Blessing"



Luke 1:26-38

THANKSGIVING EVE WORSHIP

Join us tonight Wednesday November 27 at 6:30pm as we give God thanks for all our many blessings! As we worship God specifically for the blessings of our tables, we remember those who may not enjoy the abundance we have as we conclude our food drive for St. Mark's Food Pantry. Come give God thanks! And then stay for pie! This service will NOT be live streamed.

ST. MARK'S FOOD PANTRY

St Mark’s food pantry staff were overwhelmed by the generosity of our congregation. Last Thursday’s delivery took up the entire cargo area of our SUV. The pantry was expecting our delivery and had 4 large shopping carts to put the items in. Our donation filled them to overflowing and more. Mark, the director, extends a huge thank you to all who have donated food, personal essentials, toilet paper and bags. Our food drive, which ends this week, has provided many items requested, but not available through the Second Harvest food bank. 

If you can donate paper/plastic bags or 2025 calendars they need them as well! Unfortunately they can not accept egg cartons.

ACCESS WORSHIP

Join us for our Traditional worship Sundays at 8:00 a.m. and at 9:45 a.m. for Praise worship which is also always livestreamed on our Facebook and available on our YouTube any time after, not just when we're live. Our most recent worship services are also posted to our website and are featured in this weekly newsletters on Wednesdays.

To view the service from November 24 click here.

The next "First Breakfast" is THIS Sunday, December 1st provided by The Sime Family! Hope to see you there! They will be serving pancakes and sausage with a Gluten Free option!!

^{DECORATION HELP NEEDED}

PLEASE come help us decorate for the season! This Saturday November 30 at 11am, we will need to do as many things in the Worship Center as possible to be ready for Advent on Sunday. Then on Wednesday December 4 at 6pm, we will finish with all the other touches! The more hands, the quicker it goes! Come for these festive times! Dinner will be provided on Dec 4.

COME HELP WITH THIS EVENT

Breakfast with Santa is a community favorite - and we're planning on a large crowd so more help is needed than ever before! We still needs a lot of hands as greeters, breakfast helpers, craft helpers, donations of food - where can you sign up? Please click the Sign Up Genius link here, call the church office, or sign up on the Welcome Table! Please also share the flyers or the Facebook event! Thank you!

...And if you ended up with the front page of the sign up sheet this past Sunday, we really need it back! Please call the church office! :)

ADVENT WORSHIP

As we prepare our hearts for Christ's coming, come for a midweek worship service on Wednesdays December 11 and 18 at 6:30pm. We will read lovely poems, sing songs, and pray together. Join Pastor Heather for these uplifting times together. There will not be dinner served on these nights.

COUPLES EVENT

Please join us on Saturday, December 14 at 4:15pm for an evening of Christmas lights and fellowship in Janesville. Tickets are $15 and must be purchased ahead of time online. If you’d like to join us, please email Janice Newell (buckyshome6@yahoo.com) for more details. 

2024 Rotary Botanical Gardens Holiday Light Show | Janesville, Wisconsin

SABBATICAL UPDATE

It's been a while since we've had any information about Pastor Heather's upcoming Sabbatical in this newsletter so we thought it was time for an update. Please read this brief update for more information. The Sabbatical Team (Ann Krebs Byrne, Deb Kohlwey, Kathy Michaelis, Dave Mullen, and Gregg Schieve) as well as Council members are available for any questions.

PRAYER TEAM

This team gathers for prayer on Saturdays from 7-8 am. If you are planning on coming please text or call Jean at 608-957-2781 as we will occasionally meet off site or not at all due to weather conditions!

NEW LIFE KIDS - Sundays at 8:50am.

This week we will be taking a break for Thanksgiving

BABY TO 4K FAMILIES - Sunday at 8:50am Families with babies - 4K are invited to meet in the Kidzone to spend time together. This is a time for children to play together and for families to connect.

NEW LIFE KIDS VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Thank you to all who have signed up to help with New Life Kids! If you are interested in helping, please take a look at the sign up sheet.

TEEN GIFT DRIVE

Time to start preparing for the New Life Teen gift drive. We will once again be working with the Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) who will distribute the gifts we provide at their annual holiday event.

The collection box is in the entry way - the deadline for collecting items is December 8th. We have the BBBS Amazon Wishlist link available here. Please talk with your favorite teen for ideas and start thinking about what you are able to contribute!

QUESTIONS? Contact Kathy Michaelis - ksmichaelis@gmail.com

AFZALI FAMILY HAS BEEN REUNITED!!

New Life is sponsoring two members of the Afzali family coming from Afghanistan and recently reunited with their son, Wisal, here in Madison. Wisal’s story was included in a newsletter about 3 years ago. We became sponsors early in 2022 so applications could be filed that would allow his entire family to come to the US. Three months ago, Wisal’s parents and his 4 younger siblings were finally able to enter the US as refugees. As sponsors of Wisal’s family members, we have joined other volunteers to help the family adjust to living here. This group of volunteers is providing financial and other forms of support to assure their successful adjustment. Right now the biggest need is a car and Agha, Wisal’s father, is actively searching for employment. Of course, having a car would improve his employment options significantly. If you have any access to a car you'd be able to donate or potential leads on a job, please contact Iris Christenson. Thank you! 

FUNDRAISER FOR SCHOOL IN ETHIOPIA

Pastor Heather and her family will be traveling to Ethiopia, Emma's birth country, during her sabbatical in January. And as a family, they'd like to give back to the community close to where Emma was born. Roots Ethiopia is a non-profit working in that part of the country and has recently opened a high school that is need of text books. They are only $7/book so let's see how many books we can provide before the Hayward's return in February! Click this link to be taken to a secure site through Roots Ethiopia's website. If you wish to give through New Life instead, please be sure to indicate "Ethiopia fundraiser" with your donation.

SOCIAL PURPOSE FUND

We continue to need your help in order to be able to distribute gift cards to those in need - which totals on average about $1,000 every month! Because of the increased need, if you would be able to give to this fund, please submit checks with "Social Purpose Fund" in the memo or give online to that fund. Thank you! Also, please know that if you are experiencing any financial need (rent/mortgage, utilities, groceries, medical, unemployment/furlough, etc.) you only need to let Pastor Heather know. This information will be keep confidential to her and our financial officers (treasurer and bookkeeper).

Prayers needed for

Hospitalized, Injured, Ill or Medical Prayers :



Jeff Meicher

Cheryll Steinke's neighbor, Yoshi

Mary Roberts

Dave Kolmodin son Paul

Don Skaar

Rick Krueger

Sully and Ezra as well as Autumn and Jeff, their parents

Jadon Pruitt

Every Day Prayers

Susan Flippin

Alliette Flippin

Donna Butler's daughter Michelle

Connie Losse

Terry Phillips

Dave Kolmodin

Barb Zimmerman

Russ and Shirley Theel

Condolences

Liz Rusch & family in the death of her brother-in-law, Erich



If you would like to be included on our prayer list, please contact the church office. Permission is required from the individual for us to print their name. Individuals will be on the list for one month unless requested to office.

Please click on the calendar to take you to our Google calendar.

Office hours are Monday through Thursday. Please feel free to contact staff members of New Life by email at newlifelc@newlifelc.com or by caling the office at 608-223-9337. Contacts are listed here.

New Life Staff:

Rev. Heather Hayward, Pastor

pastor@newlifelc.com

Children & Youth Ministry Coordinator

youtheducator@newlifelc.com

Liz Rusch, Office Manager/Newsletter

newlifelc@newlifelc.com

Jim Manos, Bookkeeper

bookkeeper@newlifelc.com

Shakia “Queen” Turner, Property Manager

shakiamturner@yahoo.com

New Life Church Council:

Janice Newell, President

Jillene Fisch, Vice-President

Tom Olson, Secretary

Ken Wundrow, Treasurer

Iris Christenson

Brian Coel

Shannon Erb

Deb Kohlwey

Louise Miller

Shawn Peters

Linda Sime

Russell Theel